The Chinese in peninsular Malaysia : a study of race relations in a plural society

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Abstract

The present study is concerned with the problems of
race relations in Peninsular Malaysia, with special reference
to the Chinese community. My main thesis is that
Chinese institutions and organizations, together with their
values, economic and political activities tend to make
interaction and integration difficult in the conflict-prone
Malaysian plural society. However, despite the tremendous
amount of dissensus and conflict, the society has managed to
survive through the fact that the various component segments
are bound together not only by political institutions, but
also by their being involved in the same economic
institutions.
The study begins with an Introduction, which examines
the main structural features of the Malayan society during the
colonial period to 3erve as a background for discussion.
Chapter 1 deals with the overall stratification and
structure of the Chinese community. Particular attention is
paid to Chinese guilds and associations which tend to
perpetuate social distinctions between Chinese and Malays.
Chapter 2 attempts to examine Chinese role in Malaysian
economy. It tries to show the relative position of the Chinese in Malaysian economy and concludes that the Chinese
are far from controlling Malaysian economy as has been alleged.
Chapters 3 and 4 trace Chinese politics in pre-war and
post-war Malaysia. Three main currents of influence on the
Chinese during the pre-war period - Chinese secret societies,
The Kuomintang and the Malayan Communist Party - are examined.
For the post-war period, an attempt is made to examine Chinese
participation in party politics as well as their relatively
subordinate position in the Alliance Party.
Chapter 5 examines Chinese education in Malaysia.
Attention is focused on the various governmental efforts to
devise a national education policy and its implications for
Chinese education. The political significance of the
education issue is also examined.
Chapter 6 endeavours to analyse race relations in
Malaysia, focusing on the sources of conflj o - : between Chinese
and Malays. A brief account of the 1969 iial riots is also
provided.
Chapter 7 deals with the problems of national unity. It
is argued that the Malaysian plural society is held together by
political as well as economic institutions. Some deliberate
attempts to foster unity are also examined.
Chapter 8 attempts to examine some theoretical framework.
It focuses on two major problems, namely the inadequacy of
some Western theoretical models and the theory of the plural
society and its relevance in Malaysia.

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